The white Seat car was found abandoned in the Kansas Avenue area in the north of the city during the early hours of yesterday.

The man was not injured but left shaken by his ordeal.

Ross Street in the lower Falls Road is home to the Divis Hoods, a gang of car thieves notorious for hijacking vehicles and terrorising drivers in the area.

Many gang members, who are mostly young teenagers, are armed with replica firearms, swords and knives.

The PSNI launched Operation Galleas in November - the seventh operation in seven years aimed at tackling dangerous car crime in Belfast, with particular focus on the Divis area. So far, there have been at least 10 arrests.

PSNI statistics show that last year there were more than 2,200 car thefts or related car crimes across Belfast - more than 40 a week. More than 80 of those crimes were hijackings.